Minnesota captain Scott Bell was qouted in the Mn Daily newspaper that Mike
Grier is "just like everybody else".Scott Bell is having a wonderfull final
season of hockey but I hope he was misquoted because Mr Grier is not like
everybody else. There has never been anybody play college hockey that can do
the things  Mike Grier can do.How many 6' 4" 250 lbs hockey players, with
under 8% body fathave ever played college hockey? Scott Bell is a great
captain and a huge overachiever but he will be sitting in his living room
watching Mike Grier play for many years to come.
>
>The level of hockey has changed for Grier, but his style has not.
>
>Heading into BU's game against the Gophers tonight, Grier leads the
>Terriers in penalties and is tied for the team lead in penalty
>minutes.
>
>But he is also tied with Chris O'Sullivan for the team lead in
>scoring with 53 points, from 29 goals and 24 assists.
>
>"(Grier) is the catalyst of our team," BU coach Jack Parker said.
>"He's the go-to guy on the power play, and he's also one of our best
>defensive players as well, with that big body and willingness to play
>physically."
>
>The bad news for the Gophers is that Grier didn't play when they lost
>4-3 to BU in overtime earlier this season. The good news is neither
>did Minnesota defenseman Mike Crowley and senior winger Justin
>McHugh.
>
>However, Grier's addition to the BU lineup is expected to bring the
>Terriers to a higher level.
>
>"I hope he has more of an impact than Crowley," Parker said. "Both of
>them were stars at the Junior Nationals that weekend, so I think
>they'll both have a big impact on the game."
>
>BU has come into its own since the New Year's Eve game at Mariucci
>Arena for the Mariucci Classic title, and Parker said his team is
>more controlled.
>
>"I think we've become the team we thought we were going to be at the
>beginning of the season," Parker said. "Now, our offense is directly
>from our defense, and I think we are more in control of our destiny."
>
>Parker expects a low-scoring, close-checking game against the Gophers
>and said the only question is which team plays to its potential.
>
>Gophers coach Doug Woog said the Terriers have more to aspire to,
>being the more talented, experienced team. Grier and O'Sullivan are
>
>two of those players with outstanding potential.
>
>The two forwards feed off each other, much like receiver Jerry Rice
>and quarterback Steve Young for the San Francisco 49ers. O'Sullivan
>is the quarterback and Grier is the receiver and the guy who scores.
>
>"There's no question they help each other out," Parker said.
>"O'Sullivan is definitely the playmaker and a big contributor to
>Grier's success."
>
>Grier has certainly experienced success. He's a Hobey Baker finalist
>as a second-year player, but Gophers co-captain Scott Bell is not
>impressed.
>
>"He's just a player, just like everybody else," Bell said. "But he
>has the wrong color jersey on. That's all I know."
>
>While Bell noticed Grier's jersey color, most people notice Grier for
>the color of his skin.
>
>Grier is one of the few black college hockey players in the country,
>and though he could be the first black NHL player to be born and
>raised in the United States, he just wants to be a regular player.
>
>"People should look at each other for what they do, not what the
>color of their skin is," Grier said in an article in the Worcester
>Telegram and Gazette. "People should look at me for what kind of
>player I am, not that I am a black hockey player, but how I am as a
>hockey player."
>
>But with the level of attention he is getting at the NCAA tournament
>this weekend, one has to wonder what kind of effect it has on him and
>his teammates.
>
>So far in the tournament, Grier has only one goal and one assist, but
>Parker said there's no reason to think Grier won't be an impact
>player against Minnesota.
>
>"I think its easy for the kids to stay focused, because before they
>know it they'll have to go to bed, get up and play," Parker said.
>"Most of these kids have been in the big games before. The question
>is whether they will play to their capabilities."
>